Life Coach - Excel Center

The Excel Center is a national model known for reducing barriers and providing support for adults to earn their high school diploma in conjunction with earning an industry recognized certification and/or college credits. Supports will include an on-site child care center, assistance with transportation, a personalized success plan and additional supports as needed.

JOB SUMMARY:

Coaches are integral staff members in the Excel Center. Their primary role is to promote continued student engagement in the Excel Center and to serve as a student advocate. Each coach is responsible for a caseload of students, typically ranging from 65-80 students. In order to support student learning and productivity, coaches build relationships with students and provide resources to remove barriers from their educational progress. Effective coaches understand how to triage their caseloads by managing their core responsibilities while also being responsive to student crises as they arise. This role demonstrates behaviors consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Building Relationships

• Provide support (for example, tutoring and substituting), works closely, and maintains open communication with leadership, staff, and students to support student success.
• Attend all team and professional development meetings.
• Become part of a reliable alliance to ensure student engagement.

Tracking Student Data

• Manage and monitor students' information to ensure academic progress. Develop class schedule and directs students on a path that leads to graduation and postsecondary success.

Guiding Students in Problem-solving and Overcoming Obstacles

• Initiate and maintain contact with key community partners (community agencies, educational institutions and employers) to enhance the menu of support services provided to students.
• Identify and connect students to community resources to remove barriers and support academic and/or personal goals.

Setting and Maintaining a Positive School Culture

• Model professionalism.
• Conduct effective crucial conversations.
• Enforce school expectations.
• Maintain strong building presence.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in subject specialties including psychology, human services, education, or related field required.
• 2 years of experience in social work, counseling, advising, academic guidance or related field required.
• Experience working with high school age students in a non-traditional setting and/or in adult education setting highly preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish highly preferred.

SCOPE OF SUPERVISION: NA

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a current valid driver's license and be fully insured according to Maryland law.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong meeting facilitation skills.
• Has working knowledge of computer programs to perform clerical tasks: Google applications (specifically Gmail), School Information Management System, Excel, Word, Teams and Internet Explorer.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships at all levels and relate to a diverse population.
• Awareness of community resources.
• Ability to embrace change positively, strong planning and organizing skills, independent, self-manager.
• Outstanding role model for professionalism.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background check.
• Ability to gather and analyze data for informed decision making.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

X Light

Lifting up to 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel is defined as travel to all areas within Goodwill's territory (Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties, Baltimore City and the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland). In some cases, long-distance travel, including overnights may be required but is typically planned in advance. In some cases, travel may be unplanned.

Up to 25% of working time

Must have access to personal vehicle

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

X Limited

General office environment where the employee is infrequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles or outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually quiet.

Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake offer a wide range of benefits to employees! Click here for more info: https://goodwillches.org/about-us/goodwill-careers/